Women settle sex discrimination cases against Agri-food body for £47K

Carole Daly (left) and Hollie Lewis who have settled sex discrimination cases against a government agriculture quango for £47,000 (Image: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland/PA Wire)

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Two women have settled sex discrimination cases against a government agriculture quango for £47,000.

The scientists complained they were shouted at without justification and treated less favourably than a male colleague at the Agri-Food and Bio-Sciences Institute (AFBI) in Belfast.

Carole Daly, 29, from Belfast, and Hollie Lewis, 31, from Bangor , alleged they were subjected to discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation while working as scientific officers at the research organisation.

They said a senior colleague described their male counterpart as the "top dog".

Ms Daly said: "I was very pleased to be working in a scientific job, but I never envisaged I would experience the type of treatment that I had to endure.

"I felt undermined and undervalued."

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She began work at the Institute in 2009 but complained of incidents and treatment she received in the laboratory at Newforge Lane, where she was placed on her return to work from maternity leave in 2013.

Ms Lewis had worked in the Institute since 2004 and when she was transferred to Newforge in 2014 also questioned her treatment.

The Institute has paid Ms Daly £25,000 and Ms Lewis £22,500 in settlement of their cases and apologised for upset and distress. It is to review its policies.

The victims said when they complained repeatedly about the situation their concerns were not dealt with. Both women contacted more senior people in the Institute and eventually lodged formal grievances, but these were rejected.